Common Names

Origin

Native to some parts of Western Australia (i.e. the coastal districts of south-west Western Australia from Fremantle to King Georges Sound).

Cultivation

Widely cultivated as an ornamental plant, particularly in the coastal districts of southern Australia.

Naturalised Distribution

Widely naturalised in southern Australia (i.e. in many parts of eastern New South Wales, in Victoria and Tasmania, in many parts of South Australia and on Norfolk Island). Also naturalised beyond its native range in south-western Western Australia.

Naturalised overseas in New Zealand, south-western USA, Chile, southern Africa, the Canary Islands and the Azores.

its fruit are elongated and flattened pods (6.5-12 cm long and 1.5-3 cm wide) that turn brown or reddish-brown when mature.

Stems and Leaves

Its stems are finely hairy (i.e. puberulent) with ridges that run from the bases of the leaf stalks.

Its alternately arranged leaves (15-30 cm long) are twice-compound (i.e. bipinnate) and borne on stalks (i.e. petioles) 3-7 cm long. These leaves have 7-14 pairs of branchlets (i.e. pinnae), each of which is 3-12 cm long and bears 15-40 pairs of leaflets (i.e. pinnules). The leaflets (4-11 mm long and 1-4 mm wide) are narrowly-oblong in shape with entire margins and pointed tips (i.e. acute or mucronate apices). There is a prominent raised structure (i.e. gland) about halfway along the leaf stalk, and there is sometimes another smaller gland present between the last pair of branchlets (i.e. terminal jugary gland). The leaf stalk and branchlets are finely hairy (i.e. puberulent), while the leaflets are hairless (i.e. glabrous) or sparsely hairy (i.e. puberulous) underneath.

Flowers and Fruit

The flowers are arranged in elongated clusters that are borne singly or in pairs in the upper leaf forks (i.e. axillary racemes). These clusters (4-8 cm long) are borne on stalks (i.e. peduncles) 0.7-3 cm long and contain large numbers of small yellow or greenish-yellow flowers. Each flower is borne on a short stalk (i.e. pedicel) 1.5-3 mm long. These flowers have five tiny sepals (2-3 mm long) and five small petals (4-6 mm long), as well as numerous more prominent stamens (6-8 mm long). Flowering mostly during late winter (i.e. in July and August).

The fruit are elongated and flattened pods (6.5-12 cm long and 1.5-3 cm wide) that are borne on stalks 1-2 cm long. These pods are hairless (i.e. glabrous) and turn from green to brown or reddish-brown in colour as they mature. Each pod contains 6-12 dark brown or black seeds (6-8.5 mm long, 4.5-5.5 mm wide and 3-4 mm thick) that are oval in shape (i.e. elliptic).

Reproduction and Dispersal

This species reproduces by seed. The seeds are spread by wind and water, and are also dispersed in dumped garden waste.

Environmental Impact

Cape Leeuwin wattle (Paraserianthes lophantha subsp. lophantha) is regarded as an environmental weed in Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania and South Australia. It was also recently listed as a priority environmental weed in at least one Natural Resource Management region.

Legislation

Not declared or considered noxious by any state government authorities.

Management

For information on the management of this species see the following resources:

Fact sheets are available from Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) service centres and our Customer Service Centre (telephone 13 25 23). Check our website at www.biosecurity.qld.gov.au
to ensure you have the latest version of this fact sheet. The control methods referred to in this fact sheet should be used in accordance with the restrictions (federal and state legislation, and local government laws) directly or indirectly related to each control method.
These restrictions may prevent the use of one or more of the methods referred to, depending on individual circumstances. While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of this information, DEEDI does not invite reliance upon it, nor accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused by actions based on it.